Annie's 9th Birthday

Annie turned 9! She wanted to make her own cake. She made a double layer vanilla cake and decorated it all herself, with just a little help from me. It turned out beautiful.

 The cake was for her family birthday celebration when everyone came over for Sunday dinner.

 Friday night she had her friend birthday party. She was jealous of Rachel's late nighter that she had at the end of cross country season, so she decided that would be a perfect birthday party (since we don't do sleepovers, except for cousins).

They made friendship bracelets and watched Studio C until the pizza showed up.

 Clockwise we have Megan, Emily, Annie, Laura, McKenzie, Eloise, Alexa, Quetzali, Rachel, and Peyton.

 The girls watched Enchanted on our projector screen.

 Then when Megan and Ryan headed to bed, the girls whipped out their pillows for a pillow fight.

 We reined it in to open presents.

 Then the girls painted nails and watched Studio C until parents showed up.

 I was happy to see that the planned activities took up most of the time. Most of the girls were done with nails around 9:45 and the party ended at 10pm, so Studio C kept their attention for the last few minutes, rather than them feeling the need to run around like crazy people. :)

Annie has one year left in the single digits. Now that she's 9, all my kids are officially odd. Until Rachel turns 12 in a few weeks. Even then she'll still be odd. ;) 

We're so happy to have Annie in our family. She love sweets and candy so much, but she also has a very sweet heart and is happy to share her candy or other things she has. I think one of her love languages must be gifts because when she's feeling especially loving towards someone she finds something to give them. She is very creative and smart and is a great student. Her advanced math teacher recently sent me this email: 

Have I told you recently how much I love having Annie in advanced math?  She's a kid I can always count on to do everything I ask the first time I ask.  She is engaged deeply in whatever we are learning about.  She doesn't hesitate to help anyone who needs help and yet she's never bossy.  Essentially, if I could create a perfect student she would be it.  Thank you for sharing her with me!

Sincerely,

Kate Goodall

Annie has recently started getting into Harry Potter and has read thru the 3rd book. She enjoys reading, cooking (she wakes up most Sunday mornings and offers to make fried eggs for whoever wants them, and always jumps to help whenever I'm baking), the Great British Cooking Show, Phineas and Ferb, playing the piano, crafts, and gymnastics. And she's got one more year until she hits double digits!